Sugar Cookies, I decided to take some screenshots from last Sunday’s sermon because I loved the big Advent wreath and my pointsettia stole and I thought that my bun made me look like Mrs. Claus in “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and I also thought it would be good to have some “Rev. Vicki in action” photos for our church Facebook Page.
I came up with a little photo album that really surprised me. I know that I am soaked with sweat after leading worship, but I really didn’t realize how much physical energy and movement goes into preaching! These images were a nice shock, as I never would have guessed that I gesticulated so much and was this animated.
I am always talking about energy and embodied-ment (I know that’s not a word, but go with it) and having an alive and open face, but I know that those things can be challenging for shy persons and people who have never worked with their bodies as performance instruments. I so well remember a choreographer I worked with in college who said to me, “Never make a half gesture. Take it all the way or don’t start one at all.” I worked hard to take her advice until it became part of me. Don’t hold back and make half-way commitments to movement. It looks hesitant and can give the impression that you’re not fully committed to what you’re saying.
I share this little photo album with you* to encourage you to also make a photo album of screenshots from your own preaching videos. Obviously, the photo quality isn’t going to be fabulous. That’s not the point. The point is to be able to observe yourself in a (compassionately) critical way and to ask: am I alive? Do I seem to be engaged beyond my mouth? Am I in my body? Or am I standing in one place, glued to the text, is my expression blasé and am I a talking head?
On my Mac, you can make a screenshot by pressing Command Shift 4 and using the little box that comes up to grab the image. You’ll hear camera shutter clicking sound and the screenshot will save wherever you like on your hard drive or desk top. I upload mine to Dropbox.
Send me some good ones!
My alter ego, here:
*These images are my intellectual property and are protected by copyright. I hate to have to say that but there’s always one person who thinks he can use them without my consent.
You look great. My goodness I want those cuffs! Fabulous.
Peace, have a blessed holiday.
For all the preaching you do here about presentation, I am shocked that you leave your microphone wire hanging loose like that! Tuck it in and you will look much more professional.
Thank you for all the sharing you do here. I do appreciate it!
[But I caaaaaan’t! I try but it always comes undone when I have to switch it on and off. If I tuck it down through my robe I always wind up strangling in it somehow. Tips? – PB]
Re: mic cord
Could you get a black cord so it would not stand out so much against the robe? If part of the cord has to be lighter colored, against your skin, can you take a Sharpie or black tape and blacken the portion of the cord that lies against the robe?
you look fab. peace
RE: mic cord
My controller is in my robe pocket, and the wire is fed through the hole in the pocket to the inside of the robe and I make sure it stays behind my back when I put the robe on. The wire has a clip on it, that is attached at the edge of my robe on the neckline near the ear where the earpiece will be affixed. With a little slack left to give me room to move my head, all the remaining cord stays inside my robe behind my back and I can still reach the controller in my robe pocket to turn it on and off as needed. The clip keeps the earpiece from being tugged loose by the weight of the cord or the controller. Might be just my model of unit, but it sure works for me!
Damn, girl, YOU ROCK!